Mutations with sensory ray defect unmask cuticular glycoprotein antigens in Caenorhabditis elegans male tail

Caenorhabditis elegans male tail has nine pairs of bilaterally symmetric ra y processes extended into a cuticular fan. The formation of these structure s involves both cell lineage differentiation and cellular morphogenesis. Ni ne mutations were examined, all of which presented an amorphous ray phenoty pe. Glycoconjugates carrying an N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) epitope were d etected at a high level in their male bursa. It was shown that these antige ns are not responsible for the morphological defects. It was further demons trated that these ram and mab gene products represent critical components f or male tail cuticle organization. Mutations of them abolish the integrity of the male bursal cuticle and unmask the underlying GlcNAc epitope.